Inline infusion device and method for introduction of a gas into a flowing media

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a method and system for the infusion of a gas into a liquid. The gas is passed through a container with ceramic filtering material of a specific pore size after which the gas enters the flow stream of the liquid.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that issubject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection tothe reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patentdisclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent filesor records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system for the infusion ofa gas into in a flowing media. In particular, the present inventionrelates to a diffusion mixing device for the introduction of gas into amedia as it flows past the point of introduction.

2. Description of Related Art

The introduction of a gas into a liquid, especially while it is flowingfrom one point to another, has been the object of many methods andapparatus. The purpose is normally to dissolve one or more gases in aflowable media, such as water or other liquid, or in some cases anothergas, as it passes the point of gas introduction. The utility of suchprocesses is widespread, including lowering the pH of the flowing media,increasing levels of beneficial gases in the media, treating mediacontaining pollutants, adding nitrogen, carbon dioxide or oxygen towater, gasoline, and the like treatment of the media. Carbon dioxide,carbonic acid, oxygen, and nitrogen gas are frequently added to water orother liquids for their beneficial uses. Ozone is utilized as asterilizing agent for waste water, swimming pools, and other areas wheretraditionally chlorine is used.

A number of different arrangements have been and are still being used tointroduce gas into a liquid. In general, they involve a device attachedin the stream of media, such as an attachment to a pipe and injectingthe gas into the stream. Some methods involve placement of devices inthe stream of flowable media to aid in the mixing and dissolution of thegas. Further addition of pressure, increasing flow turbulence, changesof temperature, and the like are all utilized in the introductionprocess. In some methods gas is bubbled into the media or mechanicalaeration devices are utilized. Other methods include sparger stones,diffusers and mixers placed in the stream of the media.

The main issues with the current technology is that there is a hugeproblem with the fouling of the internal parts of the introduction ormixing devices and frequently flow needs to be slowed or conditions offlow changed sufficiently that it severely increases the cost of theintroduction. Further, there is still much inefficiency in the processand frequently the introduction is incomplete. Even further, where thereis a multiplicity of gases to be introduced, the problems tend to becompounded and the system is even less efficient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery that if gases are passedinto a pressurized chamber and optionally through a diffusion mediawithin the chamber before entering into the flow of a media in a pipe,then the above problems with gas introduction into a flowable media arelargely avoided.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is a system for theintroduction of one or more gases into a flowable media comprising:

-   -   a) a pipe containing a flowing media;    -   b) a gas infusion device comprising a containment enclosure        pressurized to at least 5 psi and optionally enclosing a porous        diffusion material having a pore size of from about 5 microns to        about 90 microns; an inlet for introducing the one or more gases        into the enclosure; an outlet in communication with the flowing        media; wherein the optional diffusion material is positioned        such that the gas passes through the diffusion material and into        the flowing media; and    -   c) a gas source for introducing the one or more gas into the        inlet.

In another embodiment the present invention comprises a gas infusiondevice for the introduction of one or more gases into a flowable mediacomprising:

-   -   a) a containment enclosure pressurized to at least 5 psi and        optionally enclosing a porous diffusion material;    -   b) an inlet for introducing the gas into the infusion device;    -   c) an outlet for delivering the gas to the flowable media; and        wherein the optional ceramic cylinder is positioned such that        gas introduced into the device passes through the diffusion        material before it can exit the outlet.

In yet another embodiment of the invention there is a method for theintroduction of one or more gases into a flowable media flowing in apipe comprising:

-   -   a) selecting a gas infusion device comprising a containment        enclosure pressurized to at least 5 psi and optionally enclosing        a porous diffusion material having a pore size of from about 5        microns to about 90 microns; an inlet for introducing the one or        more gases into the enclosure; an outlet for attaching the        infusion device into the media flowing in the pipe wherein the        diffusion media is positioned such that the gas passes through        the diffusion material;    -   b) positioning the outlet in fluid communication with the        flowable media in the pipe;    -   c) attaching a gas source to the inlet of the infusion device;        and    -   d) passing the gas from the gas source, through the infusion        device and into the flowable media.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention showingthe system with two optional diffusion materials engaging a pipe.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of a gas mixing chamber of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of an alternate arrangement of a gasdispersing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of theprinciples and not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments shown and described. In the description below, likereference numerals are used to describe the same, similar orcorresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detaileddescription defines the meaning of the terms used herein andspecifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the artto practice the invention.

The terms “about” and “essentially” mean ±10%.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as morethan one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or asmore than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as atleast a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as usedherein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term“coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although notnecessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certainembodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of thepresent invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in variousplaces throughout this specification are not necessarily all referringto the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner inone or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive ormeaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any ofthe following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. Anexception to this definition will occur only when a combination ofelements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutuallyexclusive.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustratingcertain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not tobe considered as limitation thereto. Term “means” preceding a presentparticiple of an operation indicates a desired function for which thereis one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, orapparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled inthe art could select from these or their equivalent in view of thedisclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended to belimiting.

As used herein the terms “flowable media” and “flowing media” refer toone or more gases or liquids that are flowing through a transport pipe.Liquids such as water, gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, or any otherliquid or gas chemicals are included in the term “flowable media”. Theterm assumes that the temperature and pressure conditions of the mediawithin the pipe are such that the media is flowing from one point in thepipe to another point. The term “pipe” is given the normal meaning andthe pipe is chosen to be suitable to transport the selected media beingtransported within. Therefore, glass, metal, plastic, or the like can bechosen for the liquid and one skilled in the art can choose a pipecompatible with the media.

As used herein a “gas infusion device” refers to a device that iscapable of introducing one or more gases into a flowable media streamoptionally passed through a diffusing material. The one or more gasescan remove or combine with selected components contained in the flowablemedia and serve to purify or isolate undesirable components in theflowable media. In the present invention, it comprises a novel set ofcomponents. The gas infusion device of the present invention comprises a“containment enclosure” such as a cylinder which can contain or passthrough the gas being diffused into the flowing media. A cylinderenclosure with a cap that is sealed from the atmosphere other than thegas inlet and outlet of the device is a contemplated embodiment. Onecould, for example, take an open cylinder or pipe and cap both ends orweld them shut as desired. The containment enclosure can be materialssuch as a metal (like stainless steel), plastic, glass, or the likecompatible with the gas, pressure, and conditions of the process and oneskilled in the art can select such materials in view of the disclosureherein and the selected one or more gases. The enclosure is pressurizedto at least 5 psi, and in one embodiment between about 15 and 40 psi. Inanother embodiment the device is pressurized to over 40 psi.

Inside the enclosure is an optional “porous diffusion material”. Theporous diffusion material is made of porous diffusion filter materials.The filter material should be rigid and have a pore size from about 0.25microns to 90 microns, 5 microns to 90 microns, 10 microns to 50microns, or 10 microns to 25 microns. While the diffusion filtermaterial can be any shape (such as cylindric, disk, etc.), generallythey are made of solid rigid materials such as metals and ceramics, suchas aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, or both and the like in a variety ofporous sizes, but in general from about 0.25 to about 90 microns. Thepore size will depend on the solubility curve of the gas or gases intothe liquid. The less soluble the gas in the liquid, the smaller the poresize is utilized. A second gas can be introduced to facilitate themethod. One embodiment is essentially a piece of tube with a diameterfrom about two inches to about five inches and from about two inches toabout forty-eight inches long, but relatively any size can be used witha porous diffuser filter material.

The present invention containment enclosure has an inlet and outlet forintroduction of the gas and removal of the gas for an introduction intothe flow of the media. For example, any convenient method could beutilized. Standard gas connectors could be used for attaching gas hosesand the like to the containment cylinder. Once again, a hose typeconnection can be used for connecting the pipe, or as shown in thedrawing, an inline outlet is utilized.

The gas source utilized in the present invention is from any normalsource. In some embodiments it is carbon dioxide, oxygen, or the like. Agas tank, a gas generating mechanism, or the like is anticipated. In oneembodiment, a plurality of gases is added either through separate gasinlets or through a mixing device prior to the infusion device. In oneembodiment, a novel mixing device includes a T shaped mixing chamberwherein each gas is introduced from a side of the T for mixing in thechamber. Mixing is accomplished by the intermixing flow of the gases asthey move into and then out of the mixing chamber. The mixing chamberhas an outlet which delivers the mixed gas to the infusion device. Note,in one embodiment of the present invention there can be a plurality ofinfusion devices for infusing the same or multiple gases.

The method of the present invention comprises attaching the gas infusiondevice outlet to the pipe with the flowable media. A source of one ormore gases is attached to the infusion device inlet(s). Once the mediais flowing in the pipe, the gas is introduced into the infusion deviceflowing through the device and optionally flowing through the porousdiffusion material. From there it flows out the gas infusion device intothe pipe mixing with the flowing media.

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of a gas infusiondevice of the present invention. Gas infusion device 1, consists ofcontainment enclosure cylinder 2 which encloses an optional porousceramic cylinder 3. In one embodiment the porous ceramic cylinder is notthere. As noted above, the porous ceramic cylinder 3 can be a shape suchthat in one embodiment it includes any shape where the gas passesthrough the ceramic cylinder 3. The ceramic cylinder 3 is inside theouter cylinder 2 as shown by the dotted line. The containment cylinder 2is an enclosed structure by means of top cap 5 and bottom cap 6. Gas isprovided to the device via gas containers 7 and gas tubes 8. Thecontainment cylinder 2 has inlets 9 such as a gas tube connection asshown, but any inlet means is contemplated. A gas flushing hose withvalve 4 can be used to exhaust, purge, flush and/or gas or otherundesirable components from the gas/system before, during, or afteroperation of the system to flush as desired is shown in this embodiment.Finally, gas exits the device 1 via outlet 11 which is attached to thebottom cap 6 in this embodiment and is attached to tube 15 via tubeconnector 16 feeding the gas into media flow 17. One skilled in the artcan substitute designs other than this particular embodiment in view ofthe disclosure and use herein.

FIG. 2 is a cut away side view of a gas mixing device for introducingtwo or more gases in to the inlet 9 of device 1. The mixing device 20consists of gas inlet 21 which feeds into T shaped mixing chamber 22 viaside inputs 23. As noted in this example, two gases are mixed in thechamber (shown in a cut away version) though any number of gas inputscan be utilized and are only limited by the size of the device. Forexample, oxygen and carbon dioxide can be combined which in thisembodiment would form carbonic acid, thus introducing carbonic acid intoa media stream.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of an alternate embodiment of the optionaldiffusion material. In this embodiment, the diffusion material is a disk3 a. The disk material, in one embodiment, is a ceramic or metal diskcould be utilized or in one option, not utilized.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains maymake modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principlesof the present invention without departing from its spirit orcharacteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings.Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of thepresent invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims ratherthan by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while thepresent invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and thelike apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope ofthe invention as claimed by the applicant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for the introduction of one or moregases into a flowable media comprising: a) a pipe containing a flowingmedia; b) a gas infusion device positioned outside the pipe comprising acontainment enclosure pressurized to at least 5 psi; an inlet forintroducing the one or more gases into the enclosure; and a bottom cap;c) an outlet, the outlet attached to the bottom cap and in fluidcommunication with the pipe and the containment enclosure; and d) a gassource for introducing the one or more gases into the inlet.
 2. Thesystem according to claim 1 wherein the flowing media is water.
 3. Thesystem according to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of gassesintroduced into the infusion device.
 4. The system according to claim 3wherein the system further comprises a device for mixing the gases priorto introduction into the infusion device comprising a T shaped mixingchamber wherein each gas is introduced from a side of the T for mixingin the chamber.
 5. The system according to claim 4 wherein carbondioxide and oxygen are introduced into the mixing chamber.
 6. The systemaccording to claim 1 wherein enclosed in the containment enclosure is aporous diffusion material having a pore size of from about 5 microns toabout 90 microns wherein the diffusion material is positioned such thatthe gas passes through the diffusion material and into the flowingmedia.
 7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the pore size is fromabout 10 microns to about 50 microns.
 8. The system according to claim 1wherein a rate the gas is introduced into the media is computercontrolled.
 9. The system according to claim 6 wherein the diffusionmaterial is porous ceramic material.
 10. The system according to claim 6wherein the diffusion material is hollow on an inside portion and thegas is introduced into the hollow portion and passes through thematerial to an area outside the diffuser material to the flowing media.11. The system according to claim 6 wherein the diffusion material iscylindrical and gas passes from inside the cylinder to outside thecylinder.
 12. A gas infusion device for the introduction of one or moregases into a flowable media contained in a pipe the device designed tobe positioned outside the pipe comprising: a) a containment enclosurepressurized to at least 5 psi; b) an inlet for introducing the gas intothe infusion device; and c) an outlet for delivering the gas between thecontainment enclosure and the flowable media in the pipe.
 13. The gasinfusion device according to claim 12 wherein the containment enclosureenclosing a porous diffusion material wherein the diffusion material ispositioned such that gas introduced into the device passes through thediffusion material before it can exit the outlet.
 14. A method for theintroduction of one or more gases into a flowable media flowing in apipe comprising: a) selecting a gas infusion device positioned outsidethe pipe comprising a containment enclosure pressurized to at least 5psi; an inlet for introducing the one or more gases into the enclosure;and a bottom further comprising an outlet positioned between the gasinfusion device and the pipe for attaching the infusion device in fluidcommunication with the media flowing in the pipe; b) positioning theoutlet in fluid communication with the flowable media in the pipe; c)attaching a gas source to the inlet of the infusion device; and d)passing the gas from the gas source, through the infusion device andinto the flowable media.
 15. The method according to claim 14 whereinthere are a plurality of infusion devices infusing a gas into theflowable media.
 16. The method according to claim 14 wherein theflowable media is water, gasoline, diesel fuel, or natural gas.
 17. Themethod according to claim 14 wherein the method further comprisesselecting a device for mixing the gases prior to introduction into theinfusion device comprising a T shaped mixing chamber wherein each gas isintroduced from a side of the T for mixing in the chamber and attachingthe mixing device to the inlet of the infusion device.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 16 wherein carbon dioxide and oxygen are introducedinto the mixing chamber.
 19. The method according to claim 14 whereinthe containment enclosure is enclosing a porous diffusion materialhaving a pore size of from about 5 microns to about 90 microns whereinthe diffusion media is positioned such that the gas passes through thediffusion material.
 20. The method according to claim 12 wherein thediffusion material is a ceramic material.